Spider-Venom Peptides as Bioinsecticides
Over 10,000 arthropod species are currently considered to be pest organisms. They are estimated to contribute to the destruction of ~14% of the world’s annual crop production and transmit many pathogens. Presently, arthropod pests of agricultural and health significance are controlled predominantly...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2012-03-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/4/3/191/ |
| _version_ | 1828146443661082624 |
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| author | Glenn F. King Monique J. Windley Margaret C. Hardy Sławomir A. Dziemborowicz Volker Herzig Graham M. Nicholson |
| author_facet | Glenn F. King Monique J. Windley Margaret C. Hardy Sławomir A. Dziemborowicz Volker Herzig Graham M. Nicholson |
| author_sort | Glenn F. King |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Over 10,000 arthropod species are currently considered to be pest organisms. They are estimated to contribute to the destruction of ~14% of the world’s annual crop production and transmit many pathogens. Presently, arthropod pests of agricultural and health significance are controlled predominantly through the use of chemical insecticides. Unfortunately, the widespread use of these agrochemicals has resulted in genetic selection pressure that has led to the development of insecticide-resistant arthropods, as well as concerns over human health and the environment. Bioinsecticides represent a new generation of insecticides that utilise organisms or their derivatives (e.g., transgenic plants, recombinant baculoviruses, toxin-fusion proteins and peptidomimetics) and show promise as environmentally-friendly alternatives to conventional agrochemicals. Spider-venom peptides are now being investigated as potential sources of bioinsecticides. With an estimated 100,000 species, spiders are one of the most successful arthropod predators. Their venom has proven to be a rich source of hyperstable insecticidal mini-proteins that cause insect paralysis or lethality through the modulation of ion channels, receptors and enzymes. Many newly characterized insecticidal spider toxins target novel sites in insects. Here we review the structure and pharmacology of these toxins and discuss the potential of this vast peptide library for the discovery of novel bioinsecticides. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:47:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf1c94a69dcb4cac93bad087140364a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:47:30Z |
| publishDate | 2012-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf1c94a69dcb4cac93bad087140364a92022-12-22T04:03:59ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512012-03-014319122710.3390/toxins4030191Spider-Venom Peptides as BioinsecticidesGlenn F. KingMonique J. WindleyMargaret C. HardySławomir A. DziemborowiczVolker HerzigGraham M. NicholsonOver 10,000 arthropod species are currently considered to be pest organisms. They are estimated to contribute to the destruction of ~14% of the world’s annual crop production and transmit many pathogens. Presently, arthropod pests of agricultural and health significance are controlled predominantly through the use of chemical insecticides. Unfortunately, the widespread use of these agrochemicals has resulted in genetic selection pressure that has led to the development of insecticide-resistant arthropods, as well as concerns over human health and the environment. Bioinsecticides represent a new generation of insecticides that utilise organisms or their derivatives (e.g., transgenic plants, recombinant baculoviruses, toxin-fusion proteins and peptidomimetics) and show promise as environmentally-friendly alternatives to conventional agrochemicals. Spider-venom peptides are now being investigated as potential sources of bioinsecticides. With an estimated 100,000 species, spiders are one of the most successful arthropod predators. Their venom has proven to be a rich source of hyperstable insecticidal mini-proteins that cause insect paralysis or lethality through the modulation of ion channels, receptors and enzymes. Many newly characterized insecticidal spider toxins target novel sites in insects. Here we review the structure and pharmacology of these toxins and discuss the potential of this vast peptide library for the discovery of novel bioinsecticides.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/4/3/191/spider venompeptideinsecticidalbioinsecticidescystine knotpest control |
| spellingShingle | Glenn F. King Monique J. Windley Margaret C. Hardy Sławomir A. Dziemborowicz Volker Herzig Graham M. Nicholson Spider-Venom Peptides as Bioinsecticides Toxins spider venom peptide insecticidal bioinsecticides cystine knot pest control |
| title | Spider-Venom Peptides as Bioinsecticides |
| title_full | Spider-Venom Peptides as Bioinsecticides |
| title_fullStr | Spider-Venom Peptides as Bioinsecticides |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spider-Venom Peptides as Bioinsecticides |
| title_short | Spider-Venom Peptides as Bioinsecticides |
| title_sort | spider venom peptides as bioinsecticides |
| topic | spider venom peptide insecticidal bioinsecticides cystine knot pest control |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/4/3/191/ |
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